Orion froze where he stood, his eyes locked on Chun Hua. For a moment, he couldn't move, couldn't think—just stood there watching her. The only time he had spoken to her was when she introduced Nezha to the group, but even then, Orion had thought she was… breathtaking. Now, standing only a few steps away, he felt as if all his training meant nothing.
"Okay, Orion… breathe," he muttered in his head. "You fought gods, demons, and Silver's insane training—but this… this is the real trial."
He took a step forward. Unfortunately, nerves betrayed him. Instead of a quiet, smooth movement, he stomped the ground with so much force that a loud crack echoed through the training yard. Chun Hua immediately stopped her strikes on the wooden dummy and whipped her head around.
Her sharp golden eyes scanned him for a second, then softened in curiosity. "Uh… I know you from somewhere… but where exactly?"
Orion's face turned crimson. His mouth went dry. The words felt jammed in his throat, but somehow he forced them out. "I… I was with Wukong."
"Ohhh, right! You're the human." Chun Hua's lips curled into a mischievous grin.
Before Orion could react, she leapt straight up, grabbed onto the branch of a tree with one hand, and swung herself like an acrobat. Her tail swayed lazily behind her before she dropped down in front of him, landing effortlessly close enough that he could see the smudge of dirt across her cheek.
"Hi! I'm Chun Hua."
Orion's heart pounded. His brain screamed for him to run, but instead, he swallowed hard and told himself, It's time to surpass my limits."H-Hi. I'm Orion."
One Hour Later
If someone asked Orion to explain what happened in the last hour, he wouldn't know how to answer. He had expected maybe awkward silence, or for Chun Hua to ignore him, but instead… he was sitting beside her under a tree, talking like they'd known each other for weeks.
At one point, she asked, "You hungry?"
He hesitated. "I am, but… it feels wrong to ask you for food. You already serve Wukong. You've done more than enough."
"Serve?" Chun Hua tilted her head, almost offended. "That's not the word I'd use. It's more like… temporary assistance. I can stop whenever I feel like it."
"Then why keep helping him?" Orion asked gently.
Her eyes clouded for a moment, her usual playful energy dimming. "It's… complicated."
Orion quickly realised it was a sore subject and decided not to push further. Then, just as the silence started to feel heavy, Chun Hua suddenly sprang up, her usual spark returning. "Let's go get some food!" she said, grinning widely.
"…Okay," Orion replied, smiling nervously, not realising what kind of madness he just agreed to.
Later That Night
Orion's heart raced as he crouched inside a wooden crate filled with fruit. Outside, monkey attendants carried the boxes into the Flower Fruit Mountain's kitchen, chatting and laughing. Orion held his breath as the crate thudded against the ground.
What am I doing? he thought. I should've just said no. Why didn't I say no?
He peeked through a tiny crack in the wood. The coast looked clear. Slowly, carefully, he lifted the crate's lid and stepped out.
"Chun Hua?" he whispered.
The crate next to him shifted. With ease, Chun Hua lifted her own lid and stepped out, holding a banana in one hand like it was a prize. "I'm here."
Orion gave her a baffled look. "Wasn't that… dangerous?"
Her grin widened. "Wasn't it exhilarating?"
"Exhilarating?!" Orion whisper-shouted. "THIS ISN'T WHAT I THOUGHT YOU MEANT WHEN YOU SAID WE SHOULD GET FOOD!"
"Relax," Chun Hua said, taking a big bite of her banana. "Besides, we're just getting started."
Orion's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "…What do you mean by 'just getting started'?"
She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Tonight, Wukong's holding a massive feast. And we… are going to steal food right off his plate."
Orion's jaw nearly hit the floor. "WHAT?! Are you insane?!" He still tried to keep his voice low, but panic laced every word.
Chun Hua simply smirked, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Maybe. But trust me, human—if you really want to surpass your limits, then nothing's better training than stealing from the Monkey King himself."
Orion groaned, clutching his head. "I'm doomed."